“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NIV
A friend and I were talking about the new year 2021 and the challenges that may lay ahead. My first response before much dialogue was, “I am filled with hope for this new year!” I said it before knowing why I would make such a statement. These are my reflections for the reason that I have hope. I pray that they may encourage you also.
Emotions are felt first in the flow of our brain thinking process on the right side of our brain. Then the information continues it flows to the left side where our logical belief system tries to organize and make sense for why this experience happened and why we feel that way. A strong belief system of truth from the left side then travels back to the right side to help navigate our emotions back to peace and joy. Miscued assumptions can also filter back creating more uncertainty and worry.
My core belief – That former paragraph underscores the first place of hope in my heart. God’s word is truth. God’s word never changes and will be a rock that influences my thinking about the uncertainty of the events that may or may not come to pass. God’s word says that my life can be filled with joy and peace and I can abound in hope through the power of God’s Holy Spirit.
Hope anchored in God’s word will last through the whole storm and still be standing when the storm is over. Do a quick google search for Bible verses on hope and copy the ones that connect with your spirit. Memorize and meditate on these promises. They will become the filters that you will use to look at the uncertainty of life.
Let God’s word guide your faith. People may grow tired of you quoting a Bible verse as a “reason” to think the way that you think, but this is the way that Jesus talked. He quoted verses to gain strength (hope) to overcome temptations. He spent much time helping others see (gain revelation) to experience the freedom and life of the Old Testament scriptures.
So, I am filled with HOPE because of a strong conviction that the Bible says I can have it constantly in my life.
Relationship! – Jesus is the second reason that I have hope. If God’s word is in black and white with a little bit of red, Jesus is the highest definition of color. Hope is Jesus when we become a Jesus follower. He promises to always be with us and never forsake us. Hope is maintained, strengthened, encouraged, and nurtured in relationship that is found in Jesus.
The prophet Jeremiah wrote of the fall and exile of the Jews taken to Babylon. Many refer to him as the weeping prophet. The title of one of the books that he wrote in the Bible is called Lamentations which is filled with capturing the uncertainty, stress, and horrible consequences that they were enduring. Read slowly where he ends up in his evaluation. “‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I hope in Him!’” Lamentations 3:24. He ends his dialogue with the strength gained from a relationship with God.
As you start this New Year make a commitment today, to memorize God’s word to help you see truth from a new perspective. And make the necessary adjustments to pursue a closer relationship with Jesus. You will be so glad to have His presence leading and guiding you always.
These two core foundational beliefs of His Word and a relationship with Jesus influence my thinking, my words, and my actions. Because of their unchanging power and stability, I am filled with hope. May you also experience the joy and peace that the God of hope can bring to your life.
Blessings Love y’all